How accurate is atherosclerosis imaging by coronary computed tomography angiography?

Invasive coronary plaque imaging such as intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography has been widely used to observe culprit or non-culprit coronary atherosclerosis, as well as optimize stent sizing, apposition and deployment. Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is non-invasively available to assess coronary artery disease (CAD) and has become an appropriate strategy to evaluate patients with suspected CAD. Given recent technologies, semi-automated plaque software is available to identify coronary plaque stenosis, volume and characteristics and potentially allows to be used for the assessment of more details of plaque information, progression and future risk as a surrogate tool of the invasive imaging modalities. This review article aims to focus on various evidence in coronary plaque imaging by coronary CTA and describes how accurate coronary CTA can classify coronary atherosclerosis.     

Association of four CpG-SNPs in the vascular-related genes with coronary heart disease

Vascular-related gene polymorphism can affect the susceptibility of coronary heart disease. In current study, we aimed to evaluate the contribution of four vascular-related gene CpG-SNPs to coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 784 angiography-proven CHD patients and 746 non-CHD controls were included in the current association study. The four CpG-SNPs (including VEGFA rs1005230, ACE rs4316, CST3 rs3827143 and AGTR1 rs275653) were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. All genotype distribution of four SNPs met HWE. Among the four CpG-SNPs, none was found to be associated with CHD on both genotype and allele levels. Further subgroup tests by age or gender were unable to observe any significant associations of them with CHD. Our case-control study showed that none of four CpG-SNPs in the vascular-related genes was associated with the risk of CHD in Han Chinese, although we could not exclude other genetic variants of these vascular-related genes with contribution to CHD.     

非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与冠心病患者冠状动脉病变Gensini评分的相关性研究

目的 探讨非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平(non-HDL-C)与冠心病(CHD)患者冠状动脉病变Gensini评分的关系及临床意义。方法 对225例疑诊或既往临床诊断CHD患者予以冠状动脉造影(CAG),将造影阴性的39例作为对照组(HC组),造影阳性的186例患者诊断为CHD,结合临床特点分为心绞痛组(AP组)122例和心肌梗死组(AMI组)64例。采用Gensini评分对冠状动脉病变程度评分,测定患者全套血脂水平,探讨non-HDL-C及相关脂质成分与冠状动脉病变程度Gensini评分的相关性;同时对他汀类药物强化降脂达标,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)<1.80 mmol/L的AP组患者进行non-HDL-C与冠状动脉病变程度Gensini评分的亚组分析。结果 AMI组non-HDL-C水平高于AP组及HC组,AP组non-HDL-C水平高于HC组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);CHD患者non-HDL-C水平与Gensini评分呈正相关(r=0.562,P<0.05);LDL-C控制达标的AP组患者,高non-HDL-C组(≥2.60 mmol/L)比低non-HDL-C组(<2.60 mmol/L)Gensini评分明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 non-HDL-C与冠状动脉病变程度密切相关,non-HDL-C在评估LDL-C控制达标患者的冠状动脉病变程度及再发心血管事件风险上有一定价值,可作为LDL-C达标后心血管残余风险新的观察指标。     

Effectiveness of a nurse-led multidisciplinary self-management program for patients with coronary heart disease in communities: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led multidisciplinary self-management program (NMSP) on self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and unplanned health service utilization (HSU) among Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) in communities.MethodsA randomized controlled trial with repeated measurements was used. A convenience sample of 144 participants was recruited from a community health center in China. All participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 72) in the newly developed NMSP or a control group (n = 72) in routine care. Outcome measurement was performed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months using Coronary Artery Disease Self-Management Scale (CADSs), Self-efficacy for Chronic Disease 6-item Scale (SECD6), and Short Form-12 health survey questionnaire (SF-12).ResultsOver the six months, the two groups reported significant differences in disease medical and emotional management of CADSs, confidence in symptom and disease management of SECD6, physical and mental component summary of SF-12, as well as emergency and outpatient visits of unplanned HSU.ConclusionsThe NMSP improves self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, HRQoL and reduces unplanned HSU among CHD patients in communities.Practice implicationsThis study provides an effective approach to empower CHD patients with emphasizing on collaboration support of health professionals in communities.     

基于血清代谢组学技术考察通阳化浊方与四妙勇安汤治疗冠心病模型家兔的作用机制＊

目的 通过血清代谢组学技术，考察通阳化浊方与四妙勇安汤在治疗冠心病家兔中的作用机制。方法 40只雄性白兔，随机分为空白组、模型组、通阳化浊方组与四妙勇安汤组4组，每组10只。空白组正常饮食，模型组给予高脂饲料喂养至第8周，于第4周结束后，用球囊法手术损伤实验兔的右侧颈总动脉；在模型组基础上，两个实验组分别在术后，灌胃给予通阳化浊方和四妙勇安汤，连续4周，每日1次。给药结束后，模型组与实验组每组抽取3只家兔，采集全血后，用LC-MS技术进行血清代谢组学检测，运用PCA与OPLS-DA分析法来寻找差异性表达的代谢物和代谢途径。结果 相较于模型组，通阳化浊方与四妙勇安汤组分别存在45和27个差异化合物，通阳化浊方组涉及18条代谢通路，根据Impact值 > 0.05筛选出5条主要代谢通路，包括精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢、组氨酸代谢、牛磺酸和牛磺酸代谢、精氨酸生物合成和α-亚麻酸代谢；四妙勇安汤组涉及11条代谢通路，筛选出2条主要代谢通路分别为牛磺酸和牛磺酸代谢、组氨酸代谢。结论 通阳化浊方与四妙勇安汤在治疗冠心病模型家兔的过程中存在差异性代谢产物，干预相应的代谢通路可能会对药物在模型中的作用产生影响。     

Association between de novo lipogenesis susceptibility genes and coronary artery disease

Background and aimsCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the principal cause of death in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to use genetic epidemiology to study the association between de novo lipogenesis (DNL), one of the major pathways leading to NAFLD, and CAD risk.Methods and resultsDNL susceptibility genes were used as instruments and selected using three approaches: 1) genes that are associated with both high serum triglycerides and low sex hormone-binding globulin, both downstream consequences of DNL (unbiased approach), 2) genes that have a known role in DNL (biased approach), and 3) genes that have been associated with serum fatty acids, used as a proxy of DNL. Gene-CAD effect estimates were retrieved from the meta-analysis of CARDIoGRAM and the UK Biobank (～76014 cases and ～264785 controls). Effect estimates were clustered using a fixed-effects meta-analysis. Twenty-two DNL susceptibility genes were identified by the unbiased approach, nine genes by the biased approach and seven genes were associated with plasma fatty acids. Clustering of genes selected in the unbiased and biased approach showed a statistically significant association with CAD (OR:1.016, 95%CI:1.012; 1.020 and OR:1.013, 95%CI:1.007; 1.020, respectively), while clustering of fatty acid genes did not (OR:1.004, 95%CI:0.996–1.011). Subsequent exclusion of potential influential outliers did reveal a statistically significant association (OR:1.009, 95%CI:1.000; 1.018).ConclusionsDNL susceptibility genes are associated with an increased risk of CAD. These findings suggest that DNL may be involved in the pathogenesis of CAD and favor further development of strategies that target NAFLD through DNL.     

基于“证治代谢组学”假说探讨中药（单体/复方）药效物质基础的研究思路与实践＊

中药(单体/复方)药效物质基础研究是中医药现代研究的关键问题之一。然而,目前运用的生化和分子生物学方法很难诠释其多靶点、整体性和动态性的整合调节作用。课题组提出的"证治代谢组学"假说理论指出,不同的证候存在"证相关代谢谱群"和"证相关生物标志物",这可能是中药药效物质基础所在,辨证论治后偏离的代谢网络功能呈现回归趋势。基于"证治代谢组学"假说开展中药(单体/复方)药效物质基础研究,这将为阐释中药(单体/复方)防病治病和养生保健的科学内涵及其对疾病个体的整合调节作用提供新的思路。本文以冠心病为研究载体、气阴虚血瘀证为切入点、活血保心丸为干预措施,就该研究思路的内涵与总体模式、提出的背景与依据、实践的方式与可行性、创新与特色及其研究意义等进行了简要介绍。